India shares the global concern about the threat to the atmosphere due to the depleting ozone layer and rising average temperatures. If also recognizes the urgent need for cooperation and participation of all countries in addressing this concern.

In June 1991, India became a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, and in September 1992 to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in June 1992, and ratified it in November 1993.

India has to fulfill its obligations under the Montreal Protocol but is not required to adopt any emissions reduction targets as India’s contribution to ODS consumption and to GHG emissions in the atmosphere is not significant. The emission of GHGs is, however, expected to increase significantly in the coming years. At per capita levels, though, these emissions would remain much below the global average. The per capita level of the consumption of ODS is also below the level permitted under the Montreal Protocol.

India’s consumption of ODS in 1991 was about 10370 tonnes. Of this, about 85% was produced domestically and 15% was imported. In ozone-depleting potential (ODP) terms, the total consumption was 13111 tonnes.

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